# Robotics for Hobbyists: Getting Started; Finding Specific Kit Types? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 12, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723 "2011-11-12T20:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/1 "2011-11-12T20:24:30Z")
Boy, can I use some help. My 13-year-old son would like to get into robotics - he has built simple mechanical stuff on his own, gotten a $75 RC car and taken it apart and put it back together, etc. He is trying to figure out if there is a kit-based way he can build a 'bot - with wheels or tracks on the base, and a robot arm - where they could be controlled remotely. He and I have been Googling and found a few sites with robot kits, including stuff like this: > **[Not Found | - ScientificsOnline.com](https://www.scientificsonline.com/not_found)** > > Not Found | A cool robot arm, a do-able price (~$55) but not on mobile base and no remote control. So - how realistic is my son’s quest? Any websites we’ve been missing? Or - if we need to take a step back or two, what is the best way to get started with robotics? We’ve heard about LEGO Mindstorm, but the stuff he is interested in pursuing don’t seem to be buildable via LM. He is basically thinking about battle 'bot-type creations, but not full-sized, armored creators of mayhem 😉 - more like an RC-type vehicle with robot-type capabilities. Any ideas? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bb73d2/32.png) [@Evil\_Jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Jon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/2 "2011-11-12T21:03:08Z")
You try these guys? [http://www.robotshop.com/robot-kits.html](http://www.robotshop.com/robot-kits.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/3 "2011-11-12T21:13:39Z")
I’m not clear what you mean by “not buildable via Lego Mindstorms”, since you _can_ make battle bots with it. And pretty much anything else imaginable, too. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/4 "2011-11-12T21:20:24Z")
I don’t have any specific recommendations but wanted to say first, wow, I really miss Battle Bots ☹ The other thing I wanted to say was that my son was in robotics club in middle school and most of the bots in the competition we went to were modified Roombas. You can apparently modify them quite a lot. Obviously you’d have to add the arm. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/5 "2011-11-12T21:31:38Z")
I’d like to get a robot with a programmable interface. I’d find tweaking the programming a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/6 "2011-11-12T21:35:11Z")
Update - found a friend of his who has Mindstorm so he is learning more about it. I think he was focused more on building a 'bot - Mindstorm has the brick and parts, and requires programming - just a different set of activities he is trying to wrap his brain around… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/7 "2011-11-12T22:30:16Z")
I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen about Mindstorm. I may even get one myself as a intro into Robotics. It’s got a lot of capabilities. Eventually I’d like a kit from that other link. But for now I just want to get my feet wet. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/8 "2011-11-12T23:10:15Z")
[quote] Update - found a friend of his who has Mindstorm so he is learning more about it. I think he was focused more on building a 'bot - Mindstorm has the brick and parts, and requires programming - just a different set of activities he is trying to wrap his brain around… [quote] Strictly speaking, it _has_ to be programmable and able to operate autonomously to be a proper robot. But you can also set Mindstorms stuff up to operate via remote control. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robotics-for-hobbyists-getting-started-finding-specific-kit-types/602723/9 "2011-11-12T23:39:39Z")
Got it. Thanks.